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October 31, 2008

Early Adoption Soaring for Google Android Device

by Sam Savage

A surge in early adoption of the new G1 mobile handset -- the first to incorporate Google Android mobile computing platform - indicates Apple's iPhone may have another challenger for the title of hip mobile device, according to WebTrends Inc., a leading provider of web analytics and online marketing solutions.

During the first few days of availability, leading digital businesses such as Telegraph Media Group (TMG), publishers of the UK's biggest selling quality daily newspaper The Daily Telegraph, The Sunday Telegraph and Telegraph.co.uk, have received significant traffic from the G1 handset from T-mobile. To date, a new Google Android application available at Telegraph.co.uk/mobile has generated more than 5,000 downloads and nearly 31,000 visits.

"Part of Android's cache is its encouragement of third-party development due to the openness of its platform. As a result, many businesses are already creating applications to increase brand awareness and engagement," said Nick Sharp, VP and General Manager EMEA and Australasia, WebTrends.

WebTrends is the first analytics provider to announce support for Google Android tracking. The company updated its On Demand software to track and report on Google Android in its reports on Oct. 30, the day of the platform's release in Europe.

Paul Cheesbrough, Chief Technology Officer at TMG, said, "It's important that the Telegraph is seen to embrace new technologies and lead the way in exploring new avenues for the provision of the latest news. As people increasingly look to online platforms and their mobiles for on the move updates on what's going on in the world today, having an insight into browsing patterns from day one in order to ensure that our site is modified to achieve maximum efficiency within Android handsets is invaluable. As such, WebTrends is giving us visibility of the early adopters and the latest technology used in interaction with our brand."

Sharp added, "Segmenting such users and identifying their behavior will give forward thinking digital businesses such as TMG access to a new resource pool, which can help them shape the way they do business in the future."